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The Agony in the Garden

 (French, ca. 1490–after 1543)
Dateca. 1520−25
MediumPainted enamel on copper, partly gilded
Dimensions10 7/8 × 9 1/2 in. (27.6 × 24.1 cm)
Credit LineHenry Clay Frick Bequest
Accession number1916.4.06
Commentary

Until the 1920s, the signature of Jean Pénicaud I was visible on the white rock in the foreground, where the initials IP, linked together by a small cord, were written in gold. Today, there remain only a few isolated dots and faint indications of the loops of the cord. This plaque, which belongs to a group of eight enamels that depict episodes in Christ’s life and are signed by Jean Pénicaud I, is very similar to one depicting the Way to Calvary (now in the British Museum); both may have once been part of a polyptych illustrating the Passion of Christ. For the composition, Pénicaud relied primarily on The Agony in the Garden, engraved around 1480 by Martin Schongauer.

Source: Vignon, Charlotte. The Frick Collection Decorative Arts Handbook. New York: The Frick Collection/Scala, 2015.

Collection History

Ernest Odiot, Paris. His sale, April 26–27, 1889, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, Lot 52, repr. Calvet-Rognat and de Lariboisière sale, April 10–11, 1891, Paris, Lot 27. L. Cotreau, Paris. His sale, April 28–29, 1910, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, Lot 49. J. Pierpont Morgan, London and New York. Duveen. Frick, 1916.

Source: Enamels, Rugs and Silver in The Frick Collection. Volume VIII. New York: The Frick Collection, 1977.

Not On View
Front view of polychrome enamel Triptych representing The Way to Calvary; The Crucifixion; Piet…
Attributed to Jean Pénicaud I
ca. 1525−35
Front view of enameled plaque representing the Martyrdom of a Saint
Attributed to Jean Pénicaud I
ca. 1525−35
Enamel in gold frame with enamel medallions
Workshop of Pierre Reymond
mid- to late 16th century
Front view of a Double-Tiered enameled polychrome Triptych depicting Scenes from the Passion of…
Workshop of Nardon Pénicaud
mid-16th century
Polychrome enamel Triptych representing The Way to Calvary; The Crucifixion; The Desposition
Workshop of Nardon Pénicaud
ca. 1520−25
Polychrome enamel plaque representing The Adoration of the Magi
Attributed to Jean Reymond
late 16th century
View from behind of large oval dish depicting Jupiter
Jean Reymond
late 16th century
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